Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Happy Birthday America; "Our Promise Land"~

Re-posted from July 4th 2010

Each year we have the opportunity on the 4th of July to reflect on the freedoms we enjoy due to courageous men and woman who have fought for our liberty and our pursuit of happiness. We are so blessed to live in this country and we should never take it for granted.

In The Book of Mormon the people of that day were blessed to come to the Americas. The Lord covenanted with them that if they would be a righteous nation they would obtain this "promised land" forever. Eventually, this once blessed people became so wicked that they were destroyed to where only a remnant remained.

5. But, said he, notwithstanding our afflictions, we have obtained a land of promise, a land which is choice above all other lands; a land which the Lord God hath covenant with me should be a land for the inheritance of my seed. Yea, the Lord hath covenanted this land unto me, and to my children forever, and also all those who should be led out of other countries by the hand of the Lord.

6. Wherefore, I, Lehi prophesy according to the workings of the Spirit which is in me, that there shall none come into this land save they shall be brought by the hand of the Lord.

7. Wherefore, this land is consecrated unto him whom he shall bring.

And if it so be that they shall serve him according to the commandments which he hath given, it shall be a land of liberty unto them; wherefore, they shall never be brought down into captivity; if so, it shall be because of iniquity; for if iniquity shall abound cursed shall be the land for their sakes, but unto the righteous it shall be blessed forever.This is our promise land today. However, as in the time of the Nephites our nation is dwindling in unbelief.As found in the Book of Mormon in Helaman 11:24-27 we find the following:

24. A certain number of the dissenters from the people of Nephi who had some years before gone over unto the Lamanites, and taken upon themselves the name of the Lamanites and also a certain number who were real descendants of the Lamanites, being stirred up to anger by them, or by those dissenters, therefore they commenced a war with their brethren.
26. And thus in time, yea, even in the space of not many years, they became an exceedingly great band of robbers; and they did search out all the secret plans of Gadianton; and thus they became robbers of Gadianton.
27. Now behold, these robbers did make great havoc, yea, even great destruction among the people of Nephi, and also among the people of the Lamanites.The "Gadianton robbers" of today, with their secret combinations, are seen among the gangs, organized crime, and perhaps even within our present day financial, government, and political arenas. Our nation is no longer a God fearing nation. Many do not profess to believe in a God thus Evil abounds and Satan reigns.We need a Moroni of today. In their day in Alma 43:45; Nevertheless, the Nephites were inspired by a better cause, for they were not fighting for monarchy nor power but they were fighting for their homes and their liberties, their wives and their children, and their all, yea, for their rites of worship and their church.

12.And it came to pass that he rent his coat; and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it- In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children - and he fastened it upon the end of pole.
13. And he fastened it onto his head plate, and his breastplate, and his shields, and girded on his armor about his loins; and he took the pole, which had on the end thereof his rent coat, (and he called it the Title of Liberty) and he bowed himself to the earth, and he prayed mightily unto his God for the blessings of liberty to rest upon his brethren, so long as there should be band of Christians remain to possess the land.
16. And therefore, at this time, Moroni prayed that the cause of the Christians, and the freedom of the land might be favored.
17. And it came to pass that when he had poured out his soul to God, he named all the land which was south of the land Desolation, yea, and in fine, all the land, both on the north and on the south - a chosen land, and the land of liberty.
19. And when Moroni had said these words, he went forth among the people, waving the rent part of his garment in the air, that all might see the writing which he had written up on the rent part, and crying with a loud voice saying: 20. Behold, whosoever will maintain this title upon the land, let them come forth in the strength of the Lord, and enter into a covenant that they will maintain their rights, and their religion, that the Lord God may bless them.

We have a Title of Liberty in our American Flag today. May it always fly over a free land. The last verse in our National Anthem, "The Star Spangled Banner" declares it to all:Oh, thus be it ever when free men shall stand,
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation;
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land
Praise the Power that has made and preserved us as a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust";
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.May each of us pray for this great land to remain the home of the free and the land of the brave and our motto must always be: "In God We Trust."

Wonderful blog post! I pray constantly for our country and leaders. Each year I always read or listen to Red Skelton's "Pledge of Allegiance." I love his explanation. Sunday our Sacrament Meeting was awesome! The bishopric asked several men in our ward to speak about freedom. They had served in World War II and on. Our meeting ran over and I don't think there was one person who wanted it to end. The Spirit was so powerful and these men, bore such strong testimonies and convictions. We closed by singing the Star Spangled Banner. I don't think there was a dry eye in the congregation. All around me everyone was sniffling. It was one of the best meetings I've been to in a long time. It's always good to have a reminder about how blessed we are to live here and how important our freedom is. We must never take it for granted.Thanks again for such a timely post. Nola